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Home to 8 million people spread over 600 square miles, the city of London, England, offers a wealth of things to do during the daytime. The city offers a superb public transportation system consisting of buses and trains, known as the Tube, that gives you an affordable way to reach all the attractions. You'll find a little of something for everyone, including plenty of history, fascinating buildings and beautiful parks to keep you busy all day long.

Architecture

A guided walk with London Architecture Walks (londonarchitecturewalks.com) makes an interesting day excursion for lovers of architecture. The narrated walks take you to some of the better known architectural wonders in London along with a few hidden gems. Choose from dozens of tours, including a walk along the Bankside and Southwark to view the London Bridge and the city's oldest cathedral. Or learn about how London's baroque style came into existence as you explore buildings around the city. Most walks last 1.5 to two hours with the tours starting at one of the city's Tube train stations.

Castles

In a city filled with so much history, a visit to at least one of London's castles helps you learn more about the royal family. The Tower of London (hrp.org.uk) offers a glimpse of the 23,578 gemstones that form the Crown Jewels. Head to the White Tower to learn more about the building that acted as a prison for many famous people over the past 10 centuries, including Lady Jane Grey and Edward V. The Tower also harbors a large exhibit of armor used by knights and royalty during the past 500 years.

History

For a unique look at the history of the world since printing started, take a tour of the British Library (bl.uk). The library offers views of a medieval map of Britain from 1250. You'll also see the oldest complete Bible written in 350 A.D. as well as the Gutenberg Bible, the first book printed in Europe in 1455 using movable type. Other exhibits show you Leonardo da Vinci's Notebook of drawings, more maps of the world, including the United States as drawn in 1688, and a collection of original Beatle's lyrics. The library also displays numerous historical documents and literary masterpieces from hundreds of years ago.

Outdoor Recreation

London features myriad parks, including Regent's Park and Primrose Hill (royalparks.gov.uk), originally a hunting ground for the royal family. Today, the 410-acre park offers a garden filled with 400 varieties of roses and plenty of outdoor recreation. You'll find rowing and pedal boats for rent from spring through fall at the Boating Lake. Or play some tennis at the facilities open year-round. A steep path takes you to the top of Primrose Hill, where you'll get stunning views of the city.

About the Author

Nancy Wagner is a marketing strategist and speaker who started writing in 1998. She writes business plans for startups and established companies and teaches marketing and promotional tactics at local workshops. Wagner's business and marketing articles have appeared in "Home Business Journal," "Nation’s Business," "Emerging Business" and "The Mortgage Press," among others. She holds a B.S. from Eastern Illinois University.

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